How to Become an Effective Missionary
Cultural Literacy and Language Learning
Aug 19th
Most missionaries who learn a second language understand that it is necessary for them to learn the vocabulary and grammar of the new language. It is less obvious, though, to many missionaries, that cultural literacy, or knowledge of the culture, will also significantly improve their ability to speak and understand the language. If you understand the culture of the people to whom you are called the teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, you will have more success because you will be more likely to:
- Anticipate misunderstandings as you prepare to teach.
- Understand what people really mean.
- Express yourself appropriately.
- Become one with the people.
Note: This post on cultural literacy is part of the language learning series.
Anticipate misunderstandings as you prepare to teach.
You should strive to understand the unique culture of the people you are called to teach so that you can communicate the message of the Restoration in a way that will be clear to them. As you anticipate how the message will be received, based on your cultural understanding, you may make adjustments to the way you teach certain principles of the gospel. Then, when you teach people, they will understand what you are telling them in the context of their own culture and experience.
Understand what people really mean.
As you become acquainted with the culture of the people where you are serving, it will be easier for you to understand what people are saying to you even if they don’t explain every detail. People in your mission may have many attitudes and practices that are foreign to you and you may come to the wrong conclusions about what they are saying if you do not understand their perspective. See, for example, the following true story that was sent to me:
Most people base their ideas of who God is on the culture in which they grow up. In my mission, we taught Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, and Evangelicals. Almost every religion I’d ever heard of thrived in my mission, as well as some I’d never heard of before. I quickly learned that when people talked to me about their feelings about God, if I didn’t have some basic understanding of their religion and culture, I wouldn’t know how to interpret what they were telling me.
Once, the day after I was transferred to an island I’d never served on before, we were teaching a young woman who seemed very receptive to our message. She was very willing to believe that God is our Father and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. She readily believed the Joseph Smith story and our account of the Book of Mormon. We were excited that she seemed so receptive. We moved through the discussion, teaching principle after principle, thrilled as she accepted one doctrine after another. Needless to say, we were very surprised when she did not accept our invitation to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
Later that day, we stopped at a fruit stand to get a quick snack. During our chat with the vendor, I asked him if he believed in Jesus Christ. He replied that he did. He said, “We don’t want to offend any gods, so we believe in them all. I believe in your Christian god as well as in my own.”
That was when it hit me – the woman we’d taught earlier that day was polytheistic and willing to believe in many gods. She believed in our God because she didn’t want to offend Him, but that didn’t mean that she saw the need of changing anything about her life. She could fit the things we taught her right into her belief system. If I had known that when we were teaching her, I wouldn’t have been so puzzled by the situation and I could made it clear that we were bringing her something different. Then our invitations would have meant something.
Express yourself appropriately.
As a Mormon missionary, you should strive to understand the local culture so that you express yourself in appropriate ways. You should not assume that you can simply translate your thoughts, word for word, into another language and that people will understand. You must learn how to think and express yourself in the new language and in the way that is appropriate to that language and culture. A missionary learning Mandarin might ask, for example, “How do you say, ‘We love you’ in Mandarin?” Although a teacher could translate this statement literally, that would not be helpful since that is not a phrase the Chinese people say. A more appropriate question might be, “How does one talk about feelings in Mandarin?”
When I was in Argentina, I was amazed one day, several months into my mission, when I realized that instead of thinking in English and then translating my thoughts into Spanish, I was simply thinking in Spanish. From then on, my language abilities began to improve more rapidly.
Become one with the people.
One of the greatest things you can do to gain people’s trust and admiration is to embrace their culture in appropriate ways. This has been the way of great missionaries since the apostle Paul in ancient times (1 Cor 9:20-22). Get to know the people among whom you serve. Strive to understand their background and values. Do not suppose that because you feel comfortable with the language and culture that that is sufficient. What is equally as important as you feeling comfortable with the language and culture, is that the people feel comfortable with you, your language, and your behavior.
Also remember to always speak the mission language when you are in public. Speaking your native language with your companion when other people are around can be very impolite. Members and investigators will trust you more and you will have more opportunities to get to know them if you always speak their language in church meetings and other public venues.
As you learn the culture of the people in your mission, as well as the language, you will become a more powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord.
The Gift of Tongues
Aug 11th
The gift of tongues is one of the many gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verses 7 to 10: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”
Note: This post on the gift of tongues is part of the language learning series.
Gifts of the Spirit
Moroni chapter 10 in the Book of Mormon contains a list of gifts of the Spirit, similar to the one found in Corinthians. Then Moroni adds, in verse 24, “And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth—that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief.”
These verses of scripture teach us that all of us, if worthy and faithful, can receive these gifts of the Spirit. The Preach My Gospel manual teaches missionaries (and future missionaries) that “the gifts of the Spirit are special spiritual blessings that the Lord gives to worthy individuals for their own benefit and for their use in blessing others. For example, missionaries who must learn a new language may receive the gift of tongues to give them divine help in learning a language…These are only some examples of the many gifts of the Spirit. The Lord may bless you in other ways depending on your faithfulness, your needs, and the needs of those you serve. You should desire spiritual gifts and earnestly seek for them. These gifts come by prayer, faith, and works, according to God’s will.”
Gift of Tongues
As was pointed out in my previous post on learning the language of your mission, as a missionary, you have been called to preach the gospel in a certain language and you have been ordained to accomplish that. Therefore, you should seek earnestly for the gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues to help you speak and understand the language of the people in your mission.
Just because the ability to speak and understand a foreign language is a gift from doesn’t mean it will come easy or without much effort. Part of showing your faith in the Lord will be by working as hard as you can to learn the language. Then, as you live worthy, trust that the Lord will send his Spirit to help you teach, understand, and help others come unto Jesus Christ.
Language of the Spirit
For missionaries that have to learn a new language, as well of those that teach in their native tongue, you will no doubt struggle, from time to time, to express yourself as clearly as you would like. Remember, in times like these, that the Spirit is able to speak to the hearts of all of God’s children. President Thomas S. Monson taught:
“There is one language . . . that is common to each missionary—the language of the Spirit. It is not learned from textbooks written by men of letters, nor is it acquired through reading and memorization. The language of the Spirit comes to him who seeks with all his heart to know God and keep His divine commandments. Proficiency in this language permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart” (“The Spirit Giveth Life,” Ensign, June 1997, 2).
Joseph Smith on the Gift of Tongues
The former Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society class manual, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, explains that Joseph Smith taught that the gift of tongues was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages. Said Joseph Smith:
“I read the 13th chapter of First Corinthians [at a meeting held on December 26, 1841], also a part of the 14th chapter, and remarked that the gift of tongues was necessary in the Church; … the gift of tongues by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Church, is for the benefit of the servants of God to preach to unbelievers, as on the day of Pentecost.” But, said the prophet, “Be not so curious about tongues, do not speak in tongues except there be an interpreter present; the ultimate design of tongues is to speak to foreigners, and if persons are very anxious to display their intelligence, let them speak to such in their own tongues. The gifts of God are all useful in their place.”
Gift of Tongues to Benefit God’s Children
I’ll conclude with a great scripture from Doctrine and Covenants section 46 verses 24 – 26: “it is given to some to speak with tongues; And to another is given the interpretation of tongues. And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God.”
I know that I was blessed with the gift of tongues during my mission to Argentina. I worked hard and strived to be worthy and the Lord blessed me with good abilities to communicated in the Spanish language. And, undoubtedly, the Spirit of the Lord was often present in my preaching to bless my hearers with the gift of interpretation of tongues so they could understand me and come to know the plan God has for them.
Learning the Language: Tips for Mormon Missionaries
Aug 6th
A large percentage of Mormon Missionaries are sent to a foreign land, and the majority of them, and even some that stay state-side, are asked to learn a new language. This is the next in a series of posts on learning the language of your mission. This language learning series will be good for both future and current missionaries striving to better master their mission language.
Receiving the Gospel In Their Own Tongue
The Lord declared to Joseph Smith that “every man shall hear the fullness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power” (D&C 90:11). Regardless of the language you are called to teach in, whether it be your native tongue or not, you have been “ordained unto this power.” If your have been called to learn a foreign language, part of your calling is to learn to speak your mission language well so that you can help others come unto Christ.
In order for investigators to feel the truth of your message and seek to gain a testimony of their own, people must be able to understand your message clearly. It is true that sometimes missionaries who do not speak their mission language well are blessed to be able to communicate with people through the Spirit, but such instances are rare. Generally speaking, missionaries who speak the language better are more successful at helping others come unto Christ.
My Experience Learning Spanish
When I received my call to go to Argentina and learn Spanish, I was a little afraid. I hardly knew a word of Spanish, but I had faith in the Lord that he would help me. I knew that thousands of missionaries who had come before me had learned to speak a foreign language, and learned it well. And I knew if the Lord helped them learn a new language, he could certainly help me. And thanks to a lot of hard work, early mornings of extra studying, good companions, and the help of the Lord I was able to learn Spanish. (See the post I wrote last year on learning a language for more detail on my experience learning Spanish)
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Studying and understanding the doctrines of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will strengthen your testimony and, in turn, increase your capacity to teach and testify convincingly. The strength of your personal testimony will bring converting power to your words. You must, therefore, then learn to express in your mission language what is in your heart and mind. To succeed in this, you must be spiritually prepared and willing to work hard and be obedient to mission rules and the commandments so you can have the Spirit with you.
Below are some tips from the Preach My Gospel manual on ways you can strengthen your faith that the Lord will help you teach and testify in your mission language:
- Recognize that you have been called of God by a prophet.
- Live worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
- Be obedient to the commandments and to missionary standards.
- Pray sincerely for divine assistance.
- Study, practice, and use the mission language each day.
Work Hard and Be Persistent
Learning to teach effectively in a new language requires great effort. Do not be surprised if the task seems hard, or if progress comes slower than you expect. It will take time, but if you are persistent, work hard, and seek the Lord’s help, your language skills will grow.
You may be tempted to memorize the discussions or give the lessons word for word from memory, but to truly be effective as a missionary, you must take it to the next level. You must be able to interact well with others, understand the nuances of meaning, deal with uncertainty, and make adjustments as you teach.
As you improve your ability to speak the mission language, the people you meet will listen more to what you say than to how you say it. You will then be less worried about how to communicate the thoughts and feelings in your mind and heart, and you will be better prepared to respond to the needs of your investigators and to follow the promptings of the Spirit.
Continually strive to master the language throughout your mission and even beyond your mission. The Lord has invested much in you, and He may have uses for your language abilities later in your life. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained,
“We would also hope that every missionary learning a new proselyting language would master it in every way possible. Every missionary in this Church can improve his or her mission language skills. And as you do so, your proselyting and testifying skills will improve, you will be better received and more spiritually impressive to your investigators. Keep pushing on language mastery the entire length of your mission. . . . Don’t be satisfied with what we call a missionary vocabulary only. Stretch yourself in the language, and you will gain greater access to the hearts of the people. They will love you for trying to speak and honor their language” (Missionary Satellite Broadcast, August 1998).
You’re Not Alone in Learning the Language
I’ll conclude with another thought from the Preach My Gospel manual:
You are not alone in learning your mission language. Whenever the Lord gives a commandment, He provides a way to accomplish it (see 1 Nephi 3:7). Seek His help. Be dedicated in your study. In time you will acquire the language skills necessary to fulfill your purpose as a missionary.
The Book of Mormon’s Role in Missionary Work
Jul 18th
Last year, I wrote about the power of the Book of Mormon and how it can be used to answer investigators questions. The Book of Mormon plays an important role in missionary work because when people read it with a sincere heart, the Spirit will testify to their hearts that it is true (see Moroni 10: 3-5). And when they know the Book of Mormon is true, they will know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. And when they know that, they’ll also know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only “true and living church” upon the face of the earth today (see D&C 1: 30).
My Testimony of the Book of Mormon Grew at the MTC
When I was in the MTC, I remember being taught how important the Book of Mormon is in doing missionary work. I remember at that time sincerely seeking to know why the Book of Mormon was so vital to missionary work. I never doubted the book’s truthfulness, but for a time I wondered why the Lord would go to so much trouble to have the Nephites preserve the record, and for Joseph Smith to translate it. I pondered and prayed about the subject for many days.
Then, I got a letter from my dad in which he bore powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and explained how it had been the instrument in converting many, many souls that he personally knew. It was then that the Holy Spirit taught me that the Lord, if he wanted, could have chosen a different book or a different way to establish his word in the latter-days. But the Lord chose the Book of Mormon to be that instrument. And because the Lord prepared it, if we use it in our teaching, no other instrument brings the spirit more powerfully than the Book of Mormon in testifying of the truth of our message.
Preach My Gospel on the Book of Mormon
This is what the Preach My Gospel manual says about the role of the Book of Mormon in missionary work:
The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ. It is also proof of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. As a missionary, you must first have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. This testimony can lead to a deep and abiding faith in the power of the Book of Mormon during the conversion process. Have confidence that the Holy Ghost will testify to anyone who reads and ponders the Book of Mormon and asks God if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ. This witness of the Holy Ghost should be a central focus of your teaching.
…The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion. It is the most correct of any book on the earth (see introduction to the Book of Mormon). It teaches the doctrine of Christ plainly, especially in the lessons you teach investigators. Use it as your main source for teaching the restored gospel.
…A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon). It testifies of Christ by affirming the reality of His life, mission, and power. It teaches true doctrine concerning the Atonement—the foundation for the plan of salvation. Several of those whose writings are preserved in the Book of Mormon saw Christ personally. The brother of Jared, Nephi, and Jacob saw the premortal Christ. Mormon and Moroni saw the risen Christ. In addition, multitudes were present during the Savior’s brief but powerful ministry among the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 11–28). Those who know little or nothing about the Savior will come to know Him by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon.
The following is a great video, created by the Mormon Messages team at the LDS Church, on the promises of the Book of Mormon that the reader can gain a personal witness of its truthfulness by faithful reading and prayer.
Leadership Part 2: Captain Moroni
May 4th
This is the second in a series of three articles on leadership. In the first article on leadership (see Leadership Part 1: Jesus, the Perfect Leader), I quoted President Kimball saying that the scriptures contain many examples of effective leaders that we should study. In that spirit, I’d like to share with you the following excerpt from Hugh Nibley, where he gives a wonderful example of the leadership by Moroni, the military captain of the Nephites, which we learn about in the Book of Mormon. Nibley’s speech, called Leaders to Managers: The Fatal Shift, was delivered at the BYU commencement ceremony on August 19, 1983.
“Moroni was the charismatic leader, personally going about to rally the people, who came running together spontaneously to his title of liberty, the banner of the poor and downtrodden of Israel (Alma 46:12, 19—21).
We are often reminded that Moroni “did not delight in the shedding of blood” and would do anything to avoid it, repeatedly urging his people to make covenants of peace and to preserve them by faith and prayer. He refused to talk about “the enemy.” For him they were always “our brethren,” misled by the traditions of their fathers. He fought them only with heavy reluctance, and he never invaded their lands, even when they threatened intimate invasion of his own.
He never felt threatened, since he trusted absolutely in the Lord. At the slightest sign of weakening by an enemy in battle, Moroni would instantly propose a discussion to put an end to the fighting. The idea of total victory was alien to him—no revenge, no punishment, no reprisals, no reparations, even for an aggressor who had ravaged his country. He would send the beaten enemy home after battle, accepting their word for good behavior or inviting them to settle on Nephite lands, even when he knew he was taking a risk. Even his countrymen who fought against him lost their lives only while opposing him on the field of battle. There were no firing-squads, and former conspirators and traitors had only to agree to support his popular army to be reinstated.
With Alma, he insisted that conscientious objectors [the people of Ammon, parents of Helaman’s 2,000 Stripling Warriors] keep their oaths and not go to war even when he desperately needed their help. Always concerned to do the decent thing, he would never take what he called an unfair advantage of an enemy.
Devoid of personal ambition, the moment the war was over he “yielded up the command of his armies . . . and he retired to his own house . . . in peace” (Alma 62:43), though as the national hero he could have had any office or honor. For his motto was, “I seek not for power” (Alma 60:36), and as to rank he thought of himself only as one of the despised and outcast of Israel. If all this sounds a bit too idealistic, may I remind you that there really have been such men in history.”
Here is an LDS-Church-made video about one of the battles that Captain Moroni led:
In the same talk quoted above, Nibley give some other characteristics of what he called “true leaders.”
“Leadership is an escape from mediocrity. All the great deposits of art, science, and literature from the past, on which all civilization has been nourished, come to us from a mere handful of leaders. For the qualities of leadership are the same in all fields, the leader being simply the one who sets the highest example; and to do that and open the way to greater light and knowledge, the leader must break the mold. “A ship in port is safe,” says Captain Hopper speaking of management, “but that is not what ships were built for,” she says, calling for leadership.”
In conclusion, said Brother Nibley, “True leaders are inspiring because they are inspired, caught up in a higher purpose, devoid of personal ambition, idealistic, and incorruptible.” That higher purpose, of course, is the work of the Lord. This is why missionaries who truly understand the divine work they are doing, bringing souls to Jesus Christ, have the potential to be among the greatest of leaders. May you follow the example of Captain Moroni, and always stand up for your God, your religion, your freedom, and lead by the light of Christ, in your missionary work and in all aspects of your life.
